Skaggs' death has forced those within MLB to take a closer look at potential opioid abuse by playersGETTY IMAGES
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said that he "hoped to soon reach an agreement with the players' association that would allow testing for drugs like fentanyl and oxycodone," acknowledging that the league is "not immune to the opioid epidemic," according to Tyler Kepner of the N.Y. TIMES. The opioid issue has "come into the spotlight" after details emerged about the death of late Angels P Tyler Skaggs; MLBers are "not tested for such drugs without cause, because those substances are classified as 'drugs of abuse' and not performance-enhancers." Manfred, speaking yesterday ahead of Game 2 of the World Series, said dialogue with the MLBPA "has been very positive." MLBPA Exec Dir Tony Clark said that "'nothing is off the table,' including the idea of reclassifying opioids to allow for testing" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/24). MLB Deputy Commissioner Dan Halem earlier this month said that the league "does not believe it faces an opioid problem." In L.A., Jorge Castillo notes players can "take short-term doses from surgeons after operations, but team doctors are not allowed to prescribe or give out opioids." The league "relies on team employees to report behavior that could supply just cause for testing" (L.A. TIMES, 10/24).
DOWNSIZING MINOR LEAGUES? Manfred said that "no decision has been made on a reported proposal that MLB wants to eliminate 25% of the minor league teams, dropping the total number from 160 to about 120, in hopes of prioritizing the upgrading of minor league facilities." He said, "We had three preliminary meetings and then a round in the press that was pretty clearly orchestrated. Some of what's been out there is inaccurate." Manfred: "Over the long haul, minor league baseball will be at the table and prepared to discuss those things. I see this as a momentary interlude" (USA TODAY, 10/24).
BALL FLIGHT: Manfred yesterday emphasized the balls being used this postseason are "not different than the ones used during the regular season." The L.A. TIMES' Castillo notes the commissioner's comments come as the baseballs "seemed to have changed, without explanation, once the calendar flipped to October," as they "aren't traveling as far as they would have during the regular season." However, Manfred maintained that the "sample size is too small and unreliable" and noted that cold weather "suppresses a ball's flight and the pitching is better in playoff games." He said, "One thing for absolute certain, just like every other year, the balls that were used in this postseason were selected from lots that were used during the regular season. There was no difference in those baseballs." Clark said that players have "maintained the balls have 'changed quite a bit'" in the postseason. He said conversations with the league about the matter are "ongoing and will continue." He added that players "want consistency" (L.A. TIMES, 10/24).
TAKING THINGS SERIOUSLY: Manfred said that MLB is "looking into a since-deleted tweet by longtime umpire Rob Drake." Drake on Tuesday tweeted that he "planned to buy an AR-15 rifle 'because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! #MAGA2020'" (ESPN.com, 10/23).
